musiC MINISTRIES

MESSIAH     -     JOIN     -     ADULT CHOIRS     -     YOUTH CHOIRS     -     CHILDREN CHOIRS

SANCTUARY ORCHESTRA     -     YOUTH PRAISE BAND     -     PERAGALLO PIPE ORGAN

messiah

Williamsburg United Methodist Church and Fredericksburg Baptist Church are partnering together to present a shortened, prerecorded version of Handel’s Messiah beginning at 7:00 pm on December 4. You will hear a few choral favorites and four arias from our soloists, Michelle Trovato, Phaedra McNorton, Ian Lane, and Branch Fields. Sit back in the comfort of your home and listen to our special version of this year’s Messiah. 


To watch the Messiah go to https://youtu.be/N7qQQD3h_rk. If it doesn’t start immediately, left click on the play button. It will remain on the website through December 31.


We are hopeful to be back on track for our regular Messiah presentation next December 2021.  If you have any questions, please email Lou-Anne Smith, lsmith@williamsburgumc.org.

join one of our choirs or ensembles!!

Read the descriptions below and decide how you and/or your children would like to serve our church.  We have selected many exciting anthems and major works to present during Sunday morning worship and for special events throughout the year.  If you’ve participated in the past, please renew your membership by filling out a registration form (in the basement on the large bulletin board between rooms 107 and 114).  If you are joining an ensemble for the first time, please complete a registration form and attend the first rehearsal as noted.  You will make new friends who share your enthusiasm for presenting beautiful music in worship. 


For more information, contact one of the directors:


To register, click on one of the forms below:


We are a Safe Sanctuaries church. To view our policy, click here.

Adult Choirs

  • Sanctuary Choir (Lou-Anne Smith, Director) - This vocal choir leads weekly Sunday morning worship services, and welcomes folks from high school through adult! No experience is necessary! We will help you grow vocally and spiritually! Members are asked to commit to one service each Sunday – either 8:15 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. (and occasionally two services for special Sundays). Rehearsals are Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in Room 114.      
  • Summer Choir (Lou-Anne Smith, Director) - For visitors and members of the congregation of all ages from high school through adults.  Summer Choir meets only on Sunday mornings during June, July, and August to learn an easy hymn arrangement as the choir anthem for worship.   Warm-up starts at 7:40 a.m. to sing in the 8:15 a.m. service and 10:25 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. service.  
  • In Nomine Dei Ringers (Lou-Anne Smith, Director) - A beginner to intermediate bell choir for adult ringers meets on Tuesday mornings at 11:00 a.m. in Room 112. Homeschool students are welcome!
  • Covenant Ringers (Lou-Anne Smith, Director)  - An advanced youth, college student, and adult bell choir meets on Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. in Room 112. 

youth choirs

  • Canticles of Praise (Anthony Williams, Director) - Students in middle and high school rehearse choral music for worship. Rehearsal is Sunday afternoons from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Room 173. 
  • Summer Choir (Lou-Anne Smith, Director) - For visitors and members of the congregation of all ages from high school through adults.  Summer Choir meets only on Sunday mornings during June, July, and August to learn an easy hymn arrangement as the choir anthem for worship.  Warm-up starts at 7:40 a.m. to sing in the 8:15 a.m. service and 10:25 a.m. for the 11:00 a.m. service.  
  • Bells of Praise (Anthony Williams, Director) - A bell choir for middle and high school students meets on Sundays from 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Room 112. 

children choirs

  • Wesley Choir (Anthony Williams, Director) - Students in grades K-5 meet on Thursday evenings from 5:45 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. in Room 173 to rehearse unison and two-part music that they will sing in worship about once per month.
  • Joyful Noise Ringers (Anthony Williams, Director) - Students in grades 1-5 enjoy ringing bells and chimes for worship by rehearsing on Sundays immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service at approximately noon. The rehearsal is in Room 112 for 45 minutes. A SNACK IS PROVIDED PRIOR TO THE REHEARSAL!


Interested in Early Childhood Music School?  Click here.

sanctuary orchestra

Our orchestra rehearses on Monday evenings from 5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. in the Atrium. We welcome beginners and experienced players alike! Eighth grade through adult. 


Lou-Anne Smith, Conductor

youth praise band

Our vocal and instrumental band for middle and high school students meets on Sundays from 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Youth Center. They lead worship in Sunday School and Messy Church, as well as in Sunday morning worship several times per year!  


Anthony Williams, Director

pERAGALLO PIPE ORGAN

Our Peragallo Pipe Organ was installed in July 2011. It is a 62 rank, three manual and pedal organ.


The main organ includes the Grand Orgue, Positiv, Pedal, and Recit Divisions which occupy the pipe chamber on the right side of the nave. The new Grand Choeur division is located behind the left casework and provides a foil to the main instrument and allows for a balance of tonal projection in the worship space to support congregational singing. For a list of the Organ's specifications, click here.


The organ key desk is a low-profile French curved terrace design with select hardwoods such as cherry and mahogany. The tonal design was developed in collaboration with the church organist, Thomas Marshall. To learn more about our organist, Thomas Marshall, click here.


As part of the installation, the organ committee and the Peragallo's worked to improve the acoustics of the space by adding new tonal openings on both sides of the sanctuary and adding a new hardwood floor to the chancel area. The effect of these site improvements created a wonderfully balanced acoustic for the organ to project down the nave of the church.


The architectural integrity of the sanctuary has been enhanced by the new facade pipe cabinets positioned in front of the tonal openings. The Peragallo firm designed these cabinets to match perfectly with the original architecture and fine 18th century millwork present throughout the church sanctuary.



The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company is a fourth generation of organ builders. It was founded in 1918 by Mr. John Peragallo, Sr., who was an apprentice with the famous E.M. Skinner Organ Company. Mr. John Peragallo, Jr., joined the company in 1949 and further enhanced the business with a close “father-son” relationship. Today, this tradition continues with John III and Frank now heading the company joined by their sons Anthony and John IV. Specialized personal voicing has been the credo of the Peragallo Organ Company with personal voicing by John III, Frank, and their sons. The Peragallo firm is a family organization whose pipe organs successfully integrate old world craftsmanship with modern day technology. For more information, visit their website at http://www.peragallo.com/.